An attorney for Sen. Carlyle Begay called Rep. Albert Hale’s request that the Apache County Attorney’s Office challenge Begay’s recent appointment to statewide office an “inappropriate attempt… to advance his own agenda” and raised questions about the legality of such a challenge.

Surrounded by friends and family, as well as a few of his new colleagues at the Arizona Legislature, Carlyle Begay was sworn in Tuesday morning as the newest state senator, but could soon face a legal challenge to his appointment to office.